Machine for mixing concrete and the like.



,PATENTBD- MAR; 31, 1908.

I T. L. SMITH. MACHINE FOR MIXING CONCRETE AND .THE LIKE.

APPLICATION IILEDIEB. 24 1905.

PATENTBDEMAR. a1, 1908.

T-LLSMITH. MACHINE FOR MIXING GONGRETHANDTHE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1905.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

which is present in. the I I for Mixing Concrete and the provide an improved 'so-called fcubical UNITED s'rnr as THOMASL. SMITH, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCON OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN,

SIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE T. L. SMITH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

MACHINE FOItJllIXIN'G' CONCRETE AND THE'LIKE.

' siding in Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines Like, of which the following is a description, reference being had" to the accompanying drawiings, which are a part of this specification. I My invention has relationto improvements in concrete-mixers.

The-primary object of the invention is to form of mixing receptacle of such construction that, when the ma chine is in operation, a continuous back and forth cross-wise motion, as well as turning motion, is im arted to the ingredients to be mixed, whereby a rapid, effective and unistrain on the parts,

rior, which dan er is present in the use of mixing receptac es provided with the ordinary andusual form of interior agitating or mixing blades.

A further object'is to provide an im roved form of discharging mechanism, whic shall not only be capable I of effectively. and uickly discharging the mixed up batch, but

a so capable of thoroughly draining itself of any clogging material which may adhere to whereby-provision is made for discharging the .bottom thereof. I I

A still further object is the particular arrangement of the improved form of trough from the receptacle desired quantities of the mixed'materials.

1 With the above, and other ,incidental, objects in view, the invention consists of the devices and parts, or their equivalents, as

hereinafter set forth. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the complete device, the receptacle being in section; Fig. 2 is an elevation ofthe discharging end of the machine,

part broken away, Fig. 8 is a detail view-of the receptacle; and Fig. 4 isa transver tion throughsaidreceptacle.

Referring tothe drawings,

indicates a suitable framework, bove the baseof which is the mixing receptacle, herereceptacle is inafter to be described. The I 6 which are rotatably supported .on rolls mixing receptacles, and also without danger of clogging of the intethe numeral I I Specification of Letters Patent. Patented March 31, 1908-.- Application filed February 2d, 1905. Serial No. 247,080. I I i i have their bearings in the frame -'work.

shown) mounted On a -transverSe shaft 511, the said pinions engaging annular racks. 12,.

As a matter I I each rail'8 and annular rack 12 maybe formed on a single annulus or band surrounding the drawings. The transverse shaft 1 I edi-n' suitable bearings carried by the fr work, and the said shaft atone end has mounted suitable source of power is adapted to pass.

One of the head pieces of the race provided with an opening 14 throu'g I per 15 having a spout openingv may be provided. The opposite ,head piece of the in'ixing'rece tacle is pro:

dation of the discharging mechanisms.

ferred to, comprises the chamber, and the 'head sures for the ends of'said c amber. This portionbetween the head pieces ismade upof a tion 19 of each OfWliiCll may described as constituting a section of a hollow truncated cone, with the convex side outs ermost, and each having its side edges provided withinwardly extending flanges or side wings or'blades. The devices or sections so constructed form mixing buckets and these buckets are so joined together that one will have its wide endextending from -one head raga-NT OFFICE.

loosely mounted on shafts 7, which shafts These rolls engage annular rails 8, 8 arranged around the opposite head pieces of thelrecep-v provided with flanges 9 projecting at right angles therefrom, andagainst' Y the said flanges of the rails preventing sideceptacle is positively driven or rotated byg5 12 arranged aroundthe heads of the receptar cle. These racks are adjacent to and occupy 7Q an inner position with relation to the rails 8.

of convenience in construction,

outer edge of each head piece, as-sho' wn in'the 1 is me ntfilt fast thereona'belt-whe'el 13, around which a belt (not shown) extending'from any 50 tacle is the materials to be mixed may'be fed into or in lieu of the materials being fed ,directly through the opening, a hop- 16 leading through the vided with an opening 17 for t e accommo 9o The mixing receptacle lierei'nbefore ire] I and the portion between said headpieees, the

interior of said portion constituting a mixing ieces forming closeries of divisions orsections, the niaijrigpor- I be specifically.

walls 20, 20 constituting interior inixing'los piece and gradually converged to and connectcones are so oined together that the narrow next adjacent bucket will be disposed exactly the reverse. that is vto say. its wide end will extend from the head piece to which the narrow end of thetirst referred to bucket is connected, andits-wideend will extend to .the'

head piece to which the narrow end'ofthe first referred to bucket is connected, andso on.

alternately throughout the series. In other words, the sections of the hollow trunca te'd end of one will'be next to the wide'end 'of'the other. The bottoms of all of the'buckets are on a gradual incline from the wide ends to the narrow ends thereot.

The inwardly extending wings or blades 20, 20 gradually converge toward the narrow ends of the buckets, their convergence corresponding to the convergence of the bottoms of said buckets, and the.

inneredges of these blades may either oint' mvard the center or axis of thereceptac e, or

to one side thereof: 7

' By the provision of. the construction of 1n, terror buckets above descr bed. when rotation is impart-edto the receptacle, the action upon the contained ingredients in one bucketis to cause the'said'ingredients to slide downthe inclined bottom of V. said bucket and a ainst one .of'the head pieces, the wings-or inclined' bottomin throwin the material across in the direction of the slant of the bot-- rection, or toward the opposite head piece,-

and so on throughout the'operation. The material is dumped from one bucket to another,'when the bucket from which the dumping occurs reaches, through the rotation of the receptacle, a high enough position to discharge its contents, or a portion of its contents, into the next lower adjacent bucket, the balance of the contents of the discharging bucket being dumped into a bucket th'erebeneath. when said discharging bucket reaches a still higher position due to the rotation of the receptacle. .It will thus be seen that the ingredients to be mixed are not only alternately deflected in opposite directions. but are also given a rotation as the receptacle is rotated. thereby resulting in a most rapid. I

ism illustrated in the accompanying draw-- ings. The several buckets are adapted to dump their contents by gravity nto this d1sblades 20 assisting and cooperating with the .by means 0 charging mechanisn'n; as said. buckets or troughs successively assume, in the rotation of-the receptacle. an uppermost position, or a-v position in which theirconcavities are pointeddownwardly. ism referred to consists .of atrough 21' which is fixed at an upward incline between two uprights 22, 22, the said uprights being pivoted The discharging mechan-f at their lower ends on a, transverse pivot shaft 23 mounted in the framework. For

the sake of strength and rigidity, the upper;

ends of the uprights are preferably connected may also be used as a handle for tilting the uprights on their pivot. The-sides of the secured to said uprights by means of short atransverse brace 24, which I trough pass between the uprights, and are bolts or rivets 25. Itwill beunderstoodthat during the mixing operation it'is not desirable that the trough should extend through the opening 17 into the receptacle, inasmuch as if t did so extend, the materials or in 're dients under process ofbeing mlxed woul be I continuallyldumped by the buckets into the trough, and thereby interfere with an effective mixing ope ration. It is for .thisresison that I mount the troughbetween theivoted uprights 22, whereby, by throwing the said uprights outwardly, the -inner'end of the trough is withdrawn from the o ening 17,

and when said uprights are turner inwardly- .the inner end of said trough is carried "through the opening 17 and for a desired distance into -the interior of the receptacle. When the uprights are thrown oatwardly so as to withdraw the trough 21 from the position. in which said trough'extends through the o ening 17, the outward throw of'saiduprig its is limited by contact with stops 26, 26 formed by inwardly extending bends or flanges at the outer ends of projecting arms 27. When the u rights are turned to the position illustratet in Fig. 1 so as to project the trough through the o )ening 17, the parts are held in this positiony the excess overbalancing weight to the left .of the center of gravity. I I 4 In practice, under certain conditions,-'it will be desirable to vary or adjust the inclination of the trough 21. This may be accomplished in various ways, but I prefer to effect the adjustmentby providing links 28, 28 which at their lower endsare connected to the upper edges of the sides of the trough, near the inner end of said trough. The upper endsof these links pass through openings in angular extensions from brackets 29, 29, which brackets are secured to the inner sides of the uprights, near the upper ends of said uprights. The upper ends-of the links are threaded, and on the threads of each link are adapted to turn nuts 30,.30 arranged, respectively, above and below the angular extension of each bracket. It is obvious that by loosening the lower nuts and'then- "is lo consequently the inner end of the trough 'israised When the desired adjustment of the inclination of the trough is obtained, the nuts are again tightened against the angular extensions of the brackets.

When it is, desired to effect, the mixing operation, the discharging'trough 2 1 is adjusted outwardly as herein before explained. w The materials to be mixed are then oured into the hopper 15, and from said opper pass into the interiorof the receptacle. During and after the charging operation,

. power is applied to the shaft 11 sons to efiect the rotation thereof. Shaft 11 acts to rotate the receptacle through the gearing -before described, and this rotation of the receptacle causes a thorough agitation and mixing of the contained ingredients by the action of the buckets on said ingredients, as

v herein before explained. "After the mixing operation is effected, the discharge trough is adjusted inwardly through the opening 17,

' and with the continued rotation of the re- "-f-ceptacle, the mixed batch is dumped into the trough 21 from the mixing buckets, and

' from said trough the said mixed batch is advantages.

caught in wheelbarrows, or other suitable carr ing devices, positioned beneath the disc. iarging end of the trough.

, Attention is here directed to the fact that the location of the pivots of the standards below the lower edge of the discharge opening of the receptacle secures most decided It is frequently important and necessary to regulate the amount of the mixed materials discharged from the. receptacle. For vinstance, under some circumstances it may be desirable that only a bucketful be discharged, while under other circumstances an increased quantity, as for instance a wheelbarrowful, while under still other conditions the full discharging capacity of th 'Qtrough may be desired. When the latter is the case the trough is thrown into the receptacle ,to the full extent, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Then, however, a less quantity is desired to be discharged the trough is pushed into the receptacle only to a limited extent. This latter will have the effect of projecting the upper end of the trough through the discharge-opening of the receptacle to a less extent than shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and hence the trough is, under such adjustment, incapable of batch. T he bucket, wheelbarrow or other devicein which the mixed materials are to be caught, is placed below the outer end :of the trough, and when said device is filled tothe extent desired the trough is thrown outwardly so that its inner end will no longer project into the receptacle. In this manner it will be evident that the mixed batch-may be conveniently discharged from I the receptaclein regulated quantities to suit requirements. Furthermore, by the partic ular construction adopted by me in whichw the trough is held to the trough-supporting device at an upward incline, andthe said trough-supporting device is pivoted below the lower edge of the discharge opening of the receptacle, the trough is enabled to drain itself or discharge outwardly all clogging batches which may adhere to the bottom thereof, inasmuch as when the troughcarrying device is thrown outwardly the trough is brought to a position approximating a vertical plane, and hence said adhering particles or batches have every opportunity to slide down and out of the lower end of the trough. Also by reason of the provision for adjusting the inclination of the trough the rapidity of discharge may be-regulated.

While the particular form of mixing buckets shown in the accompanying drawings is the preferred form, yet I do not wish to be understood as restricting myself specifically thereto, inasmuch as various modifications may be resorted to without departing from'the broad spirit and scope" of my invention.

It is to be further understood that it is not intended to restrict the invention to any (I particular number otthe interior buckets,

as any desired nuinber may be employed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a mixing machine, in combination with a mixing receptacle having head pieces and a portion between and connected to the head pieces and constituting a continuous rim, the said receptacle provided with a discharge opening, and the rim comprising a plurality of buckets or pockets extending from one head piece to the other and ar ranged about the receptacle axis, and alternately oppositely inclined with respect to each other from one head piece to the other,

.of means for charging the receptacle, and

means for rotating said receptacle.

2. In a mixing machine, in combination with a mixing receptacle having head pieces and a portion between and connected-to the head pieces, the said receptacle provided with adischarge opening, and the portion between the head pieces comprising a plu rality of buckets or pockets extending from one head piece to the other and arranged about the receptacle axis and oppositely in clined with respect to each other from one head piece to the other, the said buckets or pockets being rounded, with the convex sides thereof outermost, of means for charging the receptacle, and. means forrotating said receptacle.

3. In a mixing machine, in combination with a, mixing receptacle having head pieces and a portion between and connected to said head pieces and constituting a continuous rim, the said receptacle provided with a dis- .charge opening, and the rim comprising a plurality of converging buckets or pockets extending from one head piece to the other and arranged in reverse order about the receptacle axis, and alternately oppositely iii-- clined with res ect to each other from one head piece to t ie other, means for charging.

the receptacle, and means for rotating said receptacle. I

t. Ina inixing'n aehine, in combination with a mixing receptacle having head pieces and a portion betweenand connected to said head pieces, the said receptacle provided with a discharge opening, and the portion between the head pieces co nprisin a p'lurality of converging buckets or poc 'ets extendingfroin one head dpiece to the other and arranged in reverse or with respect to each other from one head piece to the other, and the said buckets or pockets being rounded with the convex sides thereof outermost, of means for charging thereceptacl'e, and 'ineans for rotat ng said receptacle. ,4

5. In a mixing machine, in combination with a mixing receptacle having head pieces.

and a portion between and connected to said head pieces, the said receptacle provided with a discharge opening, and the por'tioii between the head pieces coniprising"a plurality of buckets or pockets extending from one head piece to the other and arranged about the receptacle axis and alternately opiositel inclined with res iect to each other l 3 l troin one head PIBCE'tO the other, the ineet ing edges of said bucket-s or'pockets being extended inwardly to form inwardl project'- ing walls, constituting interior agitating wings or blades, of means for charging the receptacle, and means for rotating said receptacle.

6. In a mixing machine, in'conibination with a mixing receptacle having'headpieces and a portion between and connected to said head pieces, the said receptacle provided with a discharge opening, and the portion between the-head pieces comprisingaplua with a-mixing receptacle havinghead pieces and a portion between and connected-to said er about the recepta-. cle axis, and alternately oppositely inclined head pieces, the said receptacle provided with a discharge opening, and the portion.

between the head pieces coinprisiin a -plurality of. converging buckets or 'poclrets ex-' tending from one head )iece to the other and arranged inr'e' verse order about the receptacle axis, and alternately oppositely inclined with respect to each other from 'one head piece to the other, the meeting edges of said tickets or pockets being exteiidedinwardly to form inwardly projecting w'alls, constitutmeans for charging the receptacle and means for rotating saidrec-ept'acle.

8. In a nnx ng'mach ne, in combination with a mixing receptacle having head pieces and. a portion between and connected to said head pieces, t1 e"said receptacle provided with a discharge opening, and the portion between the head pieces comprising a plurality of converg ng buckets or pockets ex tending from one lie-ad piece to the other, and

arranged in reverse order about the receptacle'axis. and alternately oppositely inclined.

with respect'to eachother from one head piece to the other, the meeting edges ofsaid ing interior agitating wings or blades, 'of" buckets or pockets being extended inwardly to form-inwardly projecting walls, constitutr ing interior agitating wings or blades, said wings or blades converged in the same directioii as the convergence .ol' the buckets or pockets, of means for charging the receptacle, and means for rotating said receptacle.

.9. vIn a mixing machine, in combination with a mixing receptacle having head pieces and a portion between and connected to said tion between tlicheadpieces comprising a plurality of buckets or pocketsjextending train one head piece'to the other and'a-roiind .tnei receptacle axis, each bucketor pocket provided with-inwardly extending QOllVGIgfil walls constituting agitating wings or blades, the said wings or blades of each bucket c011- merging oppositely to the convergence of the wings or blades of the next adjacent'bucket,

head pieces, and said receptacle alsoprovided with a discharge opening, and the porand so on alternately throughout the series,

of means for charging the receptacle, and means for rotating said receptacle;

x 10, In a mixing inachii'ie', 'thecombination of ainixing receptacle having a discharge opening, a trough-supporting"device pivotally mounted below the lower edge of, the

said discharge opening, atrough rigidly-carried by the trough-supporting device and so.-

secured thereto that shen the trough-supportingdev-iceis swung toward the receptacle the trough will lee-projected throughthe discharge opening and will catch and discharge the mixed materials whether the,

ti'ough supporting device he swung inward to the limit of its movement or to a lesser degree. wlicre'hythe trough will catch and discharge more or less of tll'QliilXOd materials as may be desired, means within the receptacle for scooping up the mixed materials and deposlting the same in the trough during the time the trough is projected into the receptacle, and means'for charging the receptacle. 11. In a m ixing machine, the combination of a mixing receptacle having a discharge.

secured thereto that when the trough-supporting device is swung toward the receptacle the trough will be projected through the discharge opening and will catch and discharge the mixed materials whether the trough-supporting device he swung inward to the limit of its movement or to a lesser degree, whereby the trough will catch and dis charge more or less of the mixed material as may be desired, means within the'receptacle for scooping up the mixed materials and depositing the same in the trough during the time the trough is projected into the receptacle, and means for charging thereceptaclej 12. In a mixing machine, the combination of amixing receptacle provided with a dis charge opening, pivoted standards adjacent to the discharge opening, atroughsupported between the standards, said trough when the standards are turned inwardly on their pivot adapted to be projectedthrough the dis charge opening andinto the receptacle, and when the standards are turned. outwardly on their pivot to be withdrawn through the discharge opening from within the receptacle, means within the receptacle for scooping up the mixed materials and depositing the same in the trough, and means for charging the-recharge opening, pivoted standards adjacent to the discharge opening, a trough supported between the standards, said trough when the standards are turnedinwardly on their pivot being adapted to be projected through the discharge opening and into the receptacle, and when the standards are turned outwardly on their pivot to be withdrawn through the discharge 7 opening from, within the receptacle, stops adapted to engage the standards when turned outwardly on their pivot, to

thereby limit the outward movement of said of a mixing receptacle having a discharge standards, means within the receptacle for scooping up the mixed materials and depositing the same in the' trough, and means for charging the receptacle.

14. In a mixing machine, the combination of a mixing receptacle provided with a discharge opening, pivotc standards adjacent to the discl arge opening, an inclined trough supported between the standards, said trough when?thetiisiandards are turned inof a mixing receptacle wardly on their pivot adapted to be projected through the discharge opening and into the receptacle, and when the standards are turned outwardlyon their pivot to be withdrawn through the discharge openingfrom within the receptacle, means for adjusting the inclination otthe trough on its supports between the standards, means within the receptacle for scooping up the mixed materials and depositing the same in the trough, and means for charging the receptacle. i

15. In a mixing machine, the combination charge" opening, pivot standards adjacent to the discharge opening, atroughsupported turnably between the standards, sait trough provided with a dis when the. standards are turned -'inwardlyon theicpivot being adapted to be projected through the discharge opening and into the receptacle, and when the standards are turned outwardly on their .pivot to be with;

drawn through the disc-barge opening frofii within the receptacle, rods having their lower ends connected to the inner end of thetrough and their upper ends connected-to the standards, the connection at one of the ends ofsaid rods being adjustable so (18 to provide for changing the inclination of the trough, means within the receptacle for scoo ing up the mixed materials andxlepositing t 1e same in the trough, and means for chargmg'the receptacle. I

16. In a mixing machine, the combination of a mixing receptacle having a discharge opening, a trough-sup orting device pivota y mounted below t e lower ed e of the said discharge opening, an adjustable trough vice and so secured thereto that when the trough-supporting device is swung toward rigidly carried by the trough-supporting dethe receptacle the trough will be projected opening, a trough-supportingdcvice pivotally mounted below'the lower edge of the discharge opening, a trough supported by the trough-supporting device at an upward incline toward the receptacle, linked connections between the inner end of the trough and the upper end of the trongh-supporting device, the trough being so carried by the trough-supporting device that when said de-- charge opening, and will catch and discharge vice is swung toward the rece tacle the,

trough will be projected throug the disthe'mixed material whether the trough-sup.- porting device be swung inward to the limit of its movement or to a lesser degree, whereby the trough Will catch and discharge more .or less of the mixed material as maybe desired, means within the receptacle for scooping up the mixed material and depositing the same in the trough during the time I the trough is projected into the receptacle, and means for charging the receptacle.

'18. In a mixing machine, the combination of a '1nixing'receptacle having adischargeopening,- a trough'-supporting device pivota y mounted below the. lower edge .of the said discharge opening, a trough rigidly carried by the trough-supporting device and so secured thereto that when the trough-supportingzdeviceis. swung toward the receptacle,

the trough will be projected through the dis charge opening an will ca'tch'and discharge the mixed material Whether the trough-supporting device be swung inward to the limit of its movement or to a lesser de ree where by the trough will catch and disc large more or less ofthe mixed material as may be desired, stops with which the trough-supporv mg devlce contacts when thrown outwardly -to limit the extent of the. outward throw,

means within the receptacle for'scoolping up the mlxed materials and depositing t e same in the trough during the time the trough is projected into the receptacle, and means .for --charging the rece tacle. 

